Ablation catheter with segmented tip

Abstract

An ablation catheter having self assembling large surface area distal component provided with one or more energy emitting surfaces for thermally destroying tissue. The distal component is oriented to present a compact, low profile for introduction into the heart, and after introduction is reconfigured to present a large surface area distal ablation tip assembly. The distal tip component is subsequently returned to the low profile configuration for removal from the heart. Once introduced, the energy emitting surfaces are thus carried by a distal component having significantly enlarged surface area. The enlargable distal component is produced using a plurality of pivoting sections capable of alignment into a compact profile for introduction into and removal from a living body. When reconfigured by pivoting of the sections into contact with each other, the distal component has an significantly enlarged dimension.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A catheter, comprising: an elongate catheter body adapted to be movably disposed in a guide sheath; and   an electrode assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the catheter body, the electrode assembly comprising a plurality of successively connected sections laterally pivotable relative to each other and adapted to be carried in longitudinal succession relative to the catheter body when disposed in a guide sheath.   
     
     
       2. A catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensing electrode operatively connected to the catheter body. 
     
     
       3. A catheter according to claim 1, wherein the sections are connected to each other by means configured to position the respective sections into contact with one another when the electrode assembly is extended through an opening of the guide sheath. 
     
     
       4. A catheter according to claim 3, wherein each of the sections has a lateral surface in contact with a lateral surface of an adjoining section when the electrode assembly is extended beyond the guide sheath opening, the respective contacting surfaces flattened so as to fit relatively compactly against each other. 
     
     
       5. A catheter according to claim 1, wherein at least one electrode is carried by each section. 
     
     
       6. A catheter according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of successively connected sections has at least one adjoining section, and wherein the respective adjoining sections are connected to each other by means of flattened preformed springs.   
     
     
       7. A catheter according to claim 6, wherein each spring is electrically insulated. 
     
     
       8. A catheter according to claim 1, wherein each section comprises a platinum iridium electrode element. 
     
     
       9. A catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a conductor electrically coupled to one or more electrodes carried by the electrode assembly. 
     
     
       10. A catheter according to claim 9, each section comprising a magnet arranged with its polarity opposite that of each respective adjoining section, whereby alignment of the adjoining sections relative to each other is thereby maintained. 
     
     
       11. A catheter assembly, comprising: an elongate catheter body having a longitudinal axis and adapted to be movably disposed in a guide sheath; and   an electrode assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the catheter body, the electrode assembly comprising a plurality of successively connected sections laterally pivotable relative to each other and adapted to be carried in longitudinal succession relative to the catheter body when disposed in a guide sheath,   wherein the sections are interconnected by means configured to position the respective sections into contact with one another when the electrode assembly is extended through an opening of a guide sheath, each section having at least one adjoining section, and   wherein the adjoining sections are connected to each other by respective flattened preformed springs, which bias the respective sections when the electrode assembly is extended beyond an opening of a guide sheath.   
     
     
       12. A catheter according to claim 11, further comprising at least one sensing electrode operatively connected to the catheter body. 
     
     
       13. A catheter according to claim 11, each section comprising a magnet arranged with its polarity opposite that of each respective adjoining section, whereby alignment of the adjoining sections relative to each other is maintained. 
     
     
       14. A catheter according to claim 11, wherein each of the sections has a lateral surface in contact with a lateral surface of an adjoining section when the electrode assembly is extended beyond the guide sheath opening, the respective contacting surfaces flattened so as to fit relatively compactly against each other. 
     
     
       15. A catheter according to claim 11, further including steering means operatively connected to the catheter body. 
     
     
       16. A catheter according to claim 11, wherein at least one electrode is carried by each section. 
     
     
       17. A catheter according to claim 16, wherein each electrode comprises platinum iridium. 
     
     
       18. A catheter according to claim 11, wherein each spring is electrically insulated. 
     
     
       19. A catheter according to claim 11, further comprising a conductor electrically coupled to one or more electrodes carried by the electrode assembly.